Catheter device with needle guard

ABSTRACT

The present disclosure relates to a catheter device comprising a catheter hub in which a valve member is disposed, a needle fixed in a needle hub, the needle extending through the valve member in the catheter hub in a ready position, and a tubular receptacle in which the needle hub is displaceably guided and biased by a spring in a proximal direction relative to the receptacle, wherein the needle hub is releasably held in the ready position in the receptacle against the force of the spring by frictional force between needle circumference and catheter or catheter hub, which frictional force is reduced on retraction of the needle through the catheter hub such that the force of the spring prevails.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a continuation application of Ser. No. 13/381,842, filed Feb. 6,2012, which is a national phase application under 35 U.S.C. §371 of PCTApplication No. PCT/EP2010/004298, filed Jul. 14, 2010, which claims thebenefit of German application No. 20 2009 009 602.5 filed Jul. 15, 2009,the contents of each of which are expressly incorporated herein byreference.

FIELD OF ART

The present disclosure relates to a catheter device in which the needleretracted from the catheter is brought into a protective position insidea tubular receptacle.

BACKGROUND

EP 922 466 describes a catheter device of this kind wherein, in theready position, the tubular receptacle for the needle engages a catheterhub via a projection at the distal end. A needle hub is displaceableinside the receptacle, and in the ready position this needle hub isimpinged on by a spring and held in a distal position in the receptacleby a locking member. After the catheter has been inserted in a patient,the receptacle with the needle is withdrawn from the catheter hub,wherein the lock on the needle hub is released by the manually operatedlocking member, so that the needle hub is moved into a proximal positionin the receptacle by the spring, in which position the needle tip islocated in the protective position inside the receptacle, which at thedistal side is provided with only a through hole for the passage of theneedle.

From EP 1 240 916 it is known to provide in a catheter hub a valvemember through which the needle extends in the ready position, and whichautomatically closes the catheter hub after retraction of the needlefrom the catheter hub such that no blood can emerge from the catheterhub. By means of a valve actuation member mounted displaceably in thecatheter hub, the valve member can be re-opened when a syringe or anintravenous line is inserted in the catheter hub thereby displacing thevalve actuating member into the open position.

SUMMARY

According to the present method, system and device, a needle which canbe retracted into a receptacle is provided with a catheter device inwhose catheter hub a valve member is disposed, which closes the catheterhub after removal of the needle and which can be brought into the openposition when a syringe or intravenous line is inserted.

Further aims, advantages, features and possible applications of thepresent method, system and device become apparent from the followingdescription of the embodiments with reference to the drawings.

Hereby, all the features described and/or shown diagrammatically formthe subject matter of the present method, system and device, whether inthemselves or in any meaningful combination, and independently of theirsummary in the claims and of the back-referencing of the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

An exemplary embodiment of the present method, system and device isexplained in more detail below with reference to the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a longitudinal section through a catheter device having aneedle inserted therein in the ready position,

FIG. 2 shows a view of the catheter device with the needle retracted andremoved therefrom,

FIG. 3 shows a syringe inserted in the catheter hub,

FIG. 4 shows an embodiment with a needle portion which supports slidingproperties, in the ready position,

FIG. 5 shows the embodiment of FIG. 4 during the retraction of theneedle, and

FIG. 6 shows the needle in the protective position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows a catheter insertion device 1 having a catheter hub 2,which is configured in two parts in the embodiment shown. A distal hubmember 3 of the catheter hub has a holding portion 3 a in which acatheter 4 is press-fitted by means of a funnel-shaped sleeve 3 b. Theproximal end of the hub member 3 has an enlarged diameter in relation tothe distal end and forms a joining portion to a hub member 5, whosedistal end engages the proximal end of the hub member 3 and which isprovided at its proximal end with a Luer thread 6. Between the two hubmembers 3 and 5, a non-return valve is inserted in the form of a valvedisc 7 which is fixed in its position by the two hub members 3 and 5.The catheter hub 2 can also be configured as one piece, wherein thevalve disc 7 can be press-fitted therein.

In the ready position according to FIG. 1, there is inserted in thecatheter hub 2 a receptacle 8 having a nose-shaped axially projectingboss 8 a in which a hollow needle 9 is fixed in a needle hub 11. In theembodiment shown, the boss 8 a is a separate piece, by means of whichassembly is facilitated. It is also possible to mould the boss 8 a onthe receptacle 8 and to con-figure the proximal wall 8 c as a cap orseparate piece, by means of which assembly is facilitated. The needle 9extends through the valve disc 7 and the catheter 4 so that the needletip 9 a is exposed. Between boss 8 a and valve disc 7, a valve actuationmember 10 is displaceably disposed in the proximal hub member 5 and hasa truncated cone-shaped abutting portion 10 a which serves to open thevalve disc 7. On the proximal side, a push portion 10 b is attached tothe abutting portion 10 a.

When the hollow needle 9 is retracted from the catheter hub 2, the valvedisc 7, due to its resilience, closes the through hole for the hollowneedle 9, as the separated position represent-ted in FIG. 2 shows, sothat no blood can emerge from the catheter 4. The silicon valve disc isprovided, for example, with three slits starting from the middle andextending radially over a short portion to form resilient lugs 7 btherebetween which can be widened by the hollow needle. Otherembodiments of a valve are also possible, wherein a different number ofslits can also be provided.

FIG. 3 shows a syringe 14 inserted in the catheter hub 2 and having adistally protruding luer taper 14 a which is configured longer than theboss 8 a at the receptacle 8, so that the valve actuating member 10 isdisplaced into the open position in FIG. 3.

The needle hub 11 is displaceably guided in the tubular receptacle 8 andheld in the ready position in FIG. 1 by a locking member 12 against theforce of a spring 13 which biases the needle hub 11 in the proximaldirection. After the locking member 12 is released by pressuretransverse to the receptacle 8, the needle hub 11 is displaced in thereceptacle in a proximal direction by the spring 13.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show an embodiment in which a locking member 12 releasingthe connection is not provided between the needle hub 11 and thereceptacle 8. The spring-biased needle hub 11 is held in the readyposition shown in FIG. 4 only by frictional force between the valvemember 7 and the needle circumference and possibly by frictional forcebetween the catheter tip 4 a and the needle 9, wherein this frictionalforce is designed to be larger than the force of the spring 13. Forthis, the needle circumference can also be provided on the longitudinalportion 9 c with a coating or surface treatment which increases thefriction, to generate a correspond-ding frictional force between thevalve member 7 and the needle circumference.

In addition or alternatively to this, the valve member 7 can be designedsuch that, for example, by means of lengthening the lugs 7 b abutting atthe needle circumference and corresponding surface treatment of thevalve member, the frictional force between the needle circumference andthe valve member 7 has the required strength, which is larger than theforce of the spring 13 which impinges the needle hub 11 in thereceptacle 8 in the proximal direction.

On a distal end portion 9 b of the needle 9 in FIGS. 4 and 5, a coatingor surface treatment is provided to reduce the friction between theneedle circumference and the valve member 7 and between the catheter tip4 a and the needle 9, so that when the needle 9 is retracted from thecatheter hub 5 (FIG. 5) a reduction in friction occurs between theuncoated area 9 c of the needle 9 and the valve member 7 and the coatedarea 9 b and valve member 7, by means of which the spring 13 isreleased. As soon as the portion 9 b of the needle 9 which is providedwith a sliding coating or corresponding surface treatment reaches thevalve member 7, the force of the spring 13 becomes greater than thefrictional force between this portion 9 b of the needle circumferenceand the valve member 7, so that the holding effect in relation to thespring 13 is cancelled and the spring is released.

The needle can also have a uniform surface condition over its wholelength, wherein the spring 13 only displaces the needle hub back intothe receptacle 8 after the needle has been retracted through thenarrowed tip 4 a of the catheter 4 and there is no more additionalfrictional force between the needle 9 and the catheter tip 4 a. Thedistal end portion 4 a of a usual catheter 4 has a diameter which isslightly smaller than the outer diameter of the needle. On the remainingarea, the catheter 4 is provided with an inner diameter which is largerthan the outer diameter of the needle.

According to a further embodiment, a friction member (not shown) can bedisposed in the catheter hub, preferably distally before the valvemember 7, to exert a predetermined friction-al force on the needlecircumference so long as the friction member is acting on the needlecircumference. When the needle 9 is retracted so far back that it is nolonger impinged by the friction member, the friction force effecting theholding force for the spring 13 is reduced, so that the spring 13 movesthe needle hub 11 into the proximal protective position in thereceptacle 8.

Such a friction member can be provided in the catheter hub 2, either inaddition to the embodiment of a low friction portion 9 b or instead ofthe friction-reducing portion 9 b of the needle.

Such a friction member can, for example, be a friction member which isimpinged on by a radially acting spring and which presses onto thecircumference of the needle 9 It is also possible to mount a frictionmember or friction members at the lugs 7 b of the valve member 7,preferably on the distal side thereof, so that when the valve member 7is opened by the valve actuating member 10, the friction membersabutting at the needle circumference are moved out of the passagecross-section of the catheter hub when the syringe 14 is inserted (seeFIG. 3).

An embodiment is also possible in which no valve actuating member 10 isprovided in the catheter hub 2, but instead the valve member 7 is movedinto the open position, for example, by positive pressure or negativepressure exerted by the syringe 14.

Furthermore, the receptacle 8 can be configured in a different way inconnection with the needle hub 11 which is held only by frictional forcein its ready position outside the receptacle 8. In FIG. 1, 8 bdesignates vent openings for air to escape when the needle hub 11 ismoved quickly by the spring 13 into the proximal protective position.Reference numeral 8 c designates a cap. By way of example, the needlehub 11 can also be provided with a friction portion by means of which,in the ready position in FIG. 4, the holding force is maintained inconnection with the frictional force in the catheter hub, whereupon oncessation of the frictional force in the catheter hub, the force of thespring 13 exceeds the frictional force of the needle hub 11 in thereceptacle 8 and moves the needle hub into the protective position.

In FIG. 5, a distance between the catheter hub 2 and the receptacle 8 isrepresented which can only occur when the user holds the catheter hub 2in one hand and also holds the receptacle 8 at a distance from thecatheter hub 2 in the other hand. If the receptacle 8 is not held at adistance from the catheter hub 2, the spring 13 urges the receptacle 8against the proximal end of the catheter hub. This has the advantage forthe user that the needle portion 9 c is covered while the needle is onlypartly retracted from the catheter hub 2 and, for example, the catheterhub 2 is fixed on the patient with adhesive tape. After this, thereceptacle 8 can be retracted past the position represented in FIG. 5until the spring 13 is released due to cessation of the frictional forcein the catheter hub 2 and the needle is retracted in the receptacle 8.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A catheter device comprising: a cathetertube attached to a catheter hub in which a valve member is disposed; aneedle fixed to a needle hub and extending through the valve member andhaving a needle tip extending distally of a distal end of the cathetertube in a ready position; a receptacle having a hollow interior in whichthe needle hub is displaceably guided and biased by a spring in aproximal direction relative to a distal end of the receptacle; whereinthe needle hub is releasably held in the ready position in thereceptacle against the force of the spring by a manually operatedlocking member; and wherein the valve comprises at least one slit andoperable to permit fluid to flow thereacross.
 2. The catheter deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the locking member is releaseable bypressure transverse to a lengthwise axis of the receptacle to releasethe spring to thereby allow the spring to expand.
 3. The catheter deviceaccording to claim 2, wherein the locking member is located at a distalend of the receptacle.
 4. The catheter device according to claim 1,further comprising a projecting boss formed as a separate piece from thereceptacle and projecting into the catheter hub.
 5. The catheter deviceaccording to claim 4, wherein the projecting boss is a separate piecefrom the locking member.
 6. The catheter device according to claim 1,further comprising a valve actuator positioned inside the catheter huband distal of the needle hub.
 7. The catheter device according to claim6, wherein the valve actuator comprises a truncated cone-shaped abuttingportion for opening the valve member.
 8. The catheter device accordingto claim 1, wherein the valve is a valve disc comprising at least threeslits forming resilient lugs.
 9. The catheter device according to claim1, wherein the catheter hub comprises a distal hub portion attached to aproximal hub portion.
 10. A catheter device comprising: a catheter hubhaving a catheter tube attached thereto and an interior cavity having avalve member with a plurality of slits disposed therein; a needle fixedto a needle hub, the needle extending through the valve member in thecatheter hub and out a distal end of the catheter tube in a readyposition; and a receptacle having a hollow interior in which the needlehub is displaceably guided and biased by a spring in a proximaldirection relative to a distal end of the receptacle; wherein the needlehub is releasably held in the ready position in the receptacle againstthe force of the spring by a releaseable locking member located at adistal end of the receptacle.
 11. The catheter device of claim 10,wherein the valve member is a valve disc comprising at least three slitsforming resilient lugs.
 12. The catheter device according to claim 10,wherein the releaseable locking member is released by pressuretransverse to a lengthwise axis of the receptacle.
 13. The catheterdevice according to claim 10, further comprising a valve actuatorpositioned inside the catheter hub and distal of an axially projectingboss.
 14. The catheter device according to claim 13, wherein the valveactuator comprises a cone-shaped abutting portion for abutting the valveto open the valve.
 15. The catheter device according to claim 10,wherein the catheter hub comprises a distal hub portion attached to aproximal hub portion.
 16. The catheter device according to claim 10,further comprising an axially projecting boss projecting into thecatheter hub.
 17. The catheter device according to claim 16, wherein theprojecting boss is a separate piece attached to the receptacle.
 18. Thecatheter device according to claim 10, wherein an axially projectingboss is integrally formed with the receptacle.
 19. A catheter devicecomprising: a catheter hub having a catheter tube attached thereto andan interior cavity having a valve member and a valve opener disposedtherein; a needle fixed to a needle hub, the needle extending throughthe valve member in the catheter hub and extending out a distal end ofthe catheter tube in a ready position; and a receptacle having aninterior cavity in which the needle hub is displaceably guided andbiased by a spring in a proximal direction relative to a distal end ofthe receptacle; wherein the needle hub is releasably held in the readyposition in the receptacle against the force of the spring; and whereinthe receptacle has an axially projecting boss disposed distally of anend thereof and projecting inside the catheter hub.
 20. The catheterdevice of claim 19, wherein the projecting boss is a separate piece fromthe receptacle.
 21. The catheter device of claim 19, further comprisinga locking member releasably holding the spring in a compressed state.22. The catheter device of claim 21, wherein the locking member and theprojecting boss are separate pieces.
 23. The catheter device of claim19, wherein the valve member is a valve disc comprising at least threeslits forming resilient lugs.
 24. The catheter device of claim 19,wherein the valve member comprises a truncated cone-shaped abuttingportion for opening the valve member.
 25. A catheter device comprising:a catheter hub with a catheter tube and having an interior cavity inwhich a valve member having a least one slit and a valve opener aredisposed; said catheter hub comprising an open proximal end forreceiving a male implement to open at least one slit on the valvemember; a needle fixed to a needle hub, the needle extending through thevalve member and the valve opener in the catheter hub and out a distalend of the catheter tube in a ready position; a rigid tubular receptaclein which the needle hub is displaceably guided and biased by a spring ina proximal direction relative to the a distal end of the receptacle;wherein the tubular receptacle has an axially projecting boss disposeddistally of an end thereof and projecting inside the catheter hub,wherein the needle hub is releasably held in the ready position in thereceptacle against the force of the spring by a releaseable lockingmember.
 26. The catheter device of claim 25, wherein the valve atruncated cone-shaped abutting portion for opening the valve member. 27.The catheter device of claim 25, wherein the projecting boss is aseparate piece from the receptacle.
 28. The catheter device of claim 25,wherein the projecting boss is a separate piece from the locking member.